An independent journal about the Gannett Co. and the news industry's digital transition

Thursday, August 04, 2011

DealChicken | Chicken s**t, and other no-no's

Has there ever been a Gannett project that's produced more bad puns than the company's new online daily deals site? (Its mission: "To bring you the freshest Grade-A deals, each and every day." Ugh.)

But I hear some puns are, in fact, off limits -- plus certain words that don't reflect well on the service or its merchant offers. One such proscribed word is "cheap,'' which is making an appearance right now in a promotion from Indian restaurant The Dhaba in Phoenix: "Today’s delicious deal is so cheap you’ll think you’re paying in rupees!"

What other words are banned? And who's got a copy of the Guidelines for Puns? I'm sure many Gannett Bloggers would like to read them. Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Not for nothing, but if DealChicken is so great, then how come it's not offered on Gannett's newspaper subscriptions? A subscription at half price MIGHT bring people back thus increasing the circulation.

DealChicken!So great, that Gannett themselves doesn't offer it on their product(s)!

Am I the only one who immediately thinks of Chicken Little when Deal Chicken is brought up? Because Gannett workers who've been through this over and over sure know the real motto should be, "THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!"

Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."